Rep. Jimmy Gomez introduced the Make Housing Affordable and Defend Democracy Act, which redirects the $175 billion in anti-immigrant funding provided in the One Big Beautiful Bill (including funding for Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Customs and Border Patrol, border militarization, and more) and reinvests those billions into affordable housing programs that reduce rents, expand homeownership, and incentivize affordable housing construction. Specifically, the bill would:
- Create a monthly Renter Tax Credit for families that pay more than 30% of their income on rent;
- Provide $25,000 or more for first time homebuyers and $50,000 or more in down-payment assistance for first-generation homebuyers;
- Convert vacant office buildings into affordable housing through a 20-35% Affordable Housing Conversion Credit;
- Launch a Starter Home Construction Credit for first-time buyers; and
- Expand production of deeply affordable housing through a strengthened Low-Income Housing Tax Credit.
